Cathedral Provincial Park fire

[Wildfire 3]

This one was a Rank 5 rippin in the alpine up into a bowl 300m from the border, they decided not to action it with tankers it as would have been wasted effort without ground support....too dangerous to send in ground crews. It changed direction to the southwest and headed into the US side, the Americans had a jumpship on station to deploy smokejumpers but they decided not to. Base of it was rank 1/2 and the 24 hour prognosis was that it probably wouldn't get too far. Not sure what theyre doing with it today, though.

[Frisk]

Only way out is through the narrow 500 meter strip of trees to the west. They should just let it burn itself out in the bowl and guard the opening. But who knows, if it gets moving in that direction I don't think air support alone could stop it.

[Frisk]

From what I'm hearing the fire is already extremely active this morning. The webcam is picking up a large smoke drift in the top right of the camera, it appeared about 20 minutes ago.

[Frisk]

Honestly I think this fire is going to absolutely explode this afternoon.

[Frisk]

Size: 120.0 hectares (estimated)

Status: Active
• 0% contained
The fire has crossed from the Snowy Protected Area in Canada into the United States. This naturally-occurring fire is burning in the remote wilderness. The BC Wildfire Service is actively monitoring this incident and assessing potential wildfire response tactics. Fire Officers are working closely with our partners in the United States to coordinate wildfire response

Interface: This is not an interface fire.

More information
Smoke is visible from Highway 3 and communities in the south Okanagan

Cause: Lightning Lightning Caused

Resources
• 20 firefighters
• 2 helicopters
On July 2, the BC Wildfire Service initially sent airtankers and an initial attack crew by helicopter, but unfortunately neither were able to action the fire due to fire behaviour, crew safety and the lack of achievable objectives.

Today the BC Wildfire Service developed a plan to target the fire on the east side, as the other three sides of the fire are guarded by natural barriers. A helicopter will establish a wet line around the fire perimeter and a 20-person sustained-action crew will establish hose lay and mop-up the fire's edge.

[tsayta]

B

[tsayta]

Smoke stream as seen from upper mission

[Frisk]

That is smoke from the Cougar Creek fire south of Lytton, the Newby lake fire is much further south. Thanks for the picture though.

[tsayta]

Compass shows SW from Kelowna

[Frisk]

Compass shows SW from Kelowna

Newby lake is almost directly south of the Mission. You wouldn't be able to see smoke unless it blew north, and in that case it would appear over the mountains to the south and head towards Vernon, also the Newby lake fire was not very active today and wasn't producing smoke like that. It's either Cougar Creek or a new fire.

[Frisk]

This was the Newby lake fire this afternoon.

http://bcwildfire.ca/ftp/!Project/WildfireNews/742015~50430_Newby4.jpg

[Frisk]

Now estimated at 588 hectares in size.

[Frisk]

It's producing a lot of smoke.

[Frisk]

Now at 858 hectares.

[Frisk]

It's now estimated at 2,289 hectares and has escaped the natural barrier 'bowl' it was in, however it has received a fair bit of precipitation over the past few days and it'll probably keep fire activity down for a while. Only 250 hectares are on the Canadian side.

LOOMIS — Pushed by winds, the Newby Lake Fire has crossed the Loomis state forest boundary near Snowshoe Meadow.

The fire that started last Thursday has consumed about 1,347 acres of timber and heavy grass, officials said late Tuesday, noting the blaze is located about 15 miles northwest of town.

“Yesterday, firefighters focused on scouting the area, looking for appropriate anchor points to suppress the fire using safe and aggressive tactics. The fire is burning in high elevations 6,500 to 8,000 feet in steep, rocky terrain,” officials said. “Due to the remote location of the fire, a spike camp will be established closer reducing travel time for fire crews.”

Smoke from the blaze is blanketing the Oroville and Tonasket areas, as well as the Okanogan Valley.

On Monday evening, a state Interagency Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the fire. It, along with the U.S. Forest Service, state Department of Natural Resources and B.C. Minister of Forest Lands, are coordinating fire response.

Officials said opportunities exist in tying into control lines from the Tripod Fire, which burned in 2006.

There are about 173 firefighters assigned to the blaze. Aircraft resources include a Type 1, a Type 2 and two Type 3 helicopters, and one fixed wing aircraft.

Officials have closed the area leading into the Pasayten Wilderness to the public north of the Fourteen Mile and Iron Gate trailheads, and from Windy Peak, north of Haig Mountain, to the Canadian Border.

The lightning caused fire started July 2, south of Keremeos, B.C., in the Snowy Creek Protected Area. The wildfire, pushed by winds to the east and south beyond the international border, moved into the U.S. portion of the Pasayten Wilderness Area.